Information Specialist 1 – Digital Communications & Information Coordinator

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

IPERS

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Vacation, sick leave, holidays

Life and disability insurance

Retirement savings options (RIC)

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Management seeks an Information Specialist 1 to support public-facing information, ensure accessible, brand-consistent content on the department’s website and Policy Hub, and assist leadership with records and responses to public information requests.

You will create, edit, and publish content in a CMS, ensure WCAG/Section 508 compliance, maintain retention logs, coordinate with IT and legal, and provide admin support to the Public Information Officer.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications.
• Four years of full-time work experience in planning and developing content for dissemination through traditional media (newspapers, publications, radio, and television), websites, social media, and/or public speaking.
• A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience as described above, where thirty semester hours equals one year of full-time.

Responsibilities

• Create, write, edit, and maintain public-facing content on dom.iowa.gov using the CMS.
• Ensure content meets agency branding and WCAG/Section 508 accessibility requirements.
• Review digital materials for accessibility and coordinate remediation with content owners and IT staff.
• Establish and maintain retention logs and files for departmental publications, reports, and web content.
• Support leadership in applying retention schedules and organizing departmental communication materials.
• Coordinate responses to public information requests and route records for legal review.

Skills

CMS content management

Accessibility WCAG 508

Public information responses

Administrative support

Data entry

Microsoft Office/Teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations/communications

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Teams

Job description

The Department of Management’s Division of Finance and Human Resources is seeking an Information Specialist 1 to support departmental communications and public-facing information. This role ensures accurate, accessible, and brand-consistent content on the department’s website and Policy Hub, manages communication-related records, supports responses to public information requests, and provides administrative assistance to departmental leadership.

What You Will Do

• Create, write, edit, and maintain public-facing content on dom.iowa.gov using the content management system.
• Ensure content meets agency branding and federal accessibility requirements (WCAG, Section 508).
• Review digital materials for accessibility and coordinate remediation with content owners and IT staff.
• Establish and maintain retention logs and files for departmental publications, reports, and web content.
• Support leadership in applying retention schedules and organizing departmental communication materials.
• Coordinate responses to public information requests and route records requiring legal review.
• Provide daily administrative support to the Public Information Officer and other department leaders.
• Serve as a Policy Hub content publisher, managing updates and routing technical issues appropriately.
• Participate as the department’s liaison to the statewide Customer/Constituent Experience (CX) Champion network.
• Provide backup support for policy compliance and assist with bi-weekly payroll processing when needed.
• Perform accurate data entry across communication platforms (CMS, calendars, and digital systems).
• Use Microsoft Office and Teams to maintain records, reports, and documentation.
• Perform basic math (fractions, percentages) in support of communication and administrative tasks.

What We Are Seeking

• Experience creating, editing, and managing web content, preferably in a CMS environment.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards such as WCAG and Section 508.
• Strong organizational skills for managing records, digital assets, and communication workflows.
• A highly organized, independent worker with strong initiative and self-accountability to complete work accurately, on time, and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to coordinate responses to public information requests in compliance with Iowa Code Chapter 22.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Professionalism, sound judgment, and confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Teams.

Special Requirements

• Must pass DOM DoIT Background Check.
• This position may support payroll processing and policy compliance tasks as needed.
• Candidates must reside in the State of Iowa at the time employment begins.

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment
• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement savings options (RIC)
• Flexible Spending Accounts

Why Work with Us?

At the Iowa Department of Management (DOM), we help government agencies across the state perform at their best by managing financial resources, technology, and information. Our mission is rooted in service—we provide efficient, innovative, and strategic solutions that empower agencies to fulfill their goals.

We’re Guided By Four Core Values

• Integrity – We act with honesty and accountability.
• Teamwork – We collaborate to achieve shared success.
• Service – We are committed to excellence in public service.
• Partnership – We build strong relationships to drive results.

Working Arrangement

This position requires onsite work in Des Moines, IA each week. Employees meeting all expectations of their work responsibilities may request remote work and develop a hybrid/remote schedule collaboratively with their manager.

Please note, candidates for this position must reside in the state of Iowa at the time of starting the role.

Background Check Requirements

• After a conditional offer of employment has been made, and as the final step in the hiring process, candidates for this position will be subject to a background investigation, which may include but may not be limited to a verification of a candidate’s education, previous employment/work history, contact of personal references, motor vehicle records, and a criminal history check (including through Federal, State, or Local criminal justice agencies).
• Information gathered as part of such background investigation will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by Iowa Code section 22.7, 8B.4A, and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; provided that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such information shall be available to candidates upon request.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov .

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications.
• Four years of full-time work experience in planning and developing content for dissemination through traditional media (newspapers, publications, radio, and television), websites, social media, and/or public speaking.
• A total of four years of education (as described in number one) and/or full-time experience (as described in number two), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work equals one year of full-time.

Additional Qualification Requirements

Some agencies may require applicants to present a portfolio of writing, layout, or other public relations efforts to demonstrate past experience and training.